No plea yet in e-mail threat case

PROVO — A man who is charged with taking out his frustrations with the government by sending threatening e-mails to state leaders will wait a few more weeks before entering a plea.

Bradley Roberts Taylor, 43, is charged in 4th District Court with a second-degree felony for making a threat against life/property after he sent an e-mail to Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert and more than 60 e-mails to his representative and neighbor, Rep. Brad Daw, a Republican in District 60, threatening "bloodshed" and "lethal force," according to an affidavit in support of a warrant of arrest filed in 4th District Court.

Taylor was in court Wednesday for an entry of plea, but his case was rescheduled until Sept. 3.

In the e-mails to Daw, Taylor wrote things like, "I have no problem using justifiable lethal force in self defense," and "If I have to defend myself, it will be a bloody revolution," according to the affidavit.

Taylor says he has been wronged for decades and wants the government to return his driver's license and dismiss DUI charges against him, although a search of court records revealed no DUI convictions for Taylor.

When the alleged e-mail threats to Daw escalated and when the lieutenant governor was e-mailed, police were called to investigate, and Taylor was arrested in November. He is still in the Utah County Jail on $50,000 cash-only bail.

The case has been delayed several times due to three different competency reviews.

The first two reviews differed with one finding Taylor incompetent to proceed and the second stating that he was competent. A third tie-breaking review found him competent.

"The fact that he's had a competency evaluation done, that this case was delayed because several competency evaluations had to be done, (shows) that mental illness, mental issue are certainly at play," said prosecutor David Sturgill.

"At the same time, he's been found competent, and the (Utah) County Attorney's Office takes threats directed toward government officials seriously ... especially those directed to the lieutenant governor," Sturgill said.

Defense attorney Tom Means said although the e-mails may have caused individuals concern, whether or not that was Taylor's intention should be open for discussion, as Taylor didn't threaten anyone by name.

At a preliminary hearing earlier this month, Judge Lynn Davis ruled that the overall tenure of the e-mails was enough to constitute threatening behavior and bound the case over for trial.

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E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com

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